Food safety · 2 min read

Can cats eat Raisins?

No — dangerous

No. Raisins are dried grapes and carry the same risk of kidney injury — the toxic compounds are more concentrated in dried fruit.

If your cat has just eaten raisins

  1. Move your cat away from any remaining raisins. Do not try to make them vomit at home — this is dangerous in cats and rarely works.
  2. Note how much was eaten and when, and keep the packaging or a photo of the plant/substance if you can.
  3. Call your vet immediately, even out of hours. Tell them your cat's weight, what they ate, and when.
  4. If you can't reach your vet, call Animal PoisonLine (01202 509000) — paid triage, 24/7 for guidance. They can advise on urgency and route you to emergency care.

What's the full picture?

Raisins are dehydrated grapes. The toxic compounds suspected of causing kidney injury are concentrated by the drying process, meaning a small volume of raisins represents a higher effective dose than the same volume of fresh grapes.

Raisins are everywhere in UK kitchens — cereal, cereal bars, trail mix, flapjacks, fruit scones, hot cross buns, raisin bread, mince pies, Christmas pudding, Christmas cake. They're easy for cats to steal and easy to miss as an ingredient.

Any deliberate consumption of raisins by a cat is a vet conversation, even if the amount seems small.

Following VPIS and BSAVA guidance, dried vine fruits (raisins, sultanas, currants) carry the same acute kidney injury risk as fresh grapes and should be treated as a potential medical emergency in cats regardless of amount.

Symptoms to watch for

0–12 hours
Vomiting, diarrhoea, loss of appetite.
12–24 hours
Lethargy, abdominal pain, changes in drinking behaviour.
24–72 hours
Reduced urination signals acute kidney injury. Emergency.

Hidden sources you might not think of

  • Cereal (Alpen, muesli, bran flakes with fruit, granola)
  • Hot cross buns and teacakes
  • Fruit scones, Welsh cakes, Eccles cakes
  • Mince pies and Christmas pudding
  • Flapjacks and cereal bars
  • Raisin bread

Safer alternatives

  • Small pieces of fresh blueberry
  • A tiny amount of plain cooked chicken

Questions owners ask

My cat ate a few raisins from a fallen hot cross bun. What now?

Call your vet. Even a handful of raisins can cause kidney injury in a susceptible cat. They'll likely recommend bringing your cat in for induced vomiting (if recent) and supportive fluids.

If you're worried right now

Call your vet or out-of-hours emergency vet first. For poison advice, the Animal PoisonLine (UK) is on 01202 509000 — 24/7, charges apply. Your vet can also call the Veterinary Poisons Information Service (VPIS) directly.

Biscuits no Bread (cooked) caution Cake no Christmas cake no Christmas pudding no Currants no Grapes no Hot cross buns no Mince pies no Sultanas no

About this guidance

Every entry on this site is compiled from published UK veterinary toxicology sources — International Cat Care, Veterinary Poisons Information Service (VPIS) references, RCVS-registered practice materials, and peer-reviewed feline medicine literature. Where the evidence is mixed, we err on the cautious side because cats are unusually sensitive to many common substances that are harmless to humans and even to dogs.

This is general information written for UK cat owners. It is not personalised veterinary advice for your specific cat, their age, weight, medical history, or the exact exposure you're dealing with. If your cat has eaten something or is unwell, call your vet first. The Animal PoisonLine on 01202 509000 is available 24/7 for a small fee and can tell you whether an emergency visit is needed.

Entries are reviewed and updated as new research emerges. Spotted an error? Let us know — corrections are investigated and applied within 24 hours. For more context on how we work, see about and our full disclaimer.

Last reviewed: · By the What Can My Cat Eat? editorial team

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